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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2016/2017

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Psychology

Postgraduate Course: Seminar in Intelligence (PSYL11078)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryLike Seminar in Personality, this course has the format of student presentations on a curated set of core papers of the field.

The class is a core unit for Individual Differences MSc students, reflecting the fact that, along with personality, intelligence is a central topic of individual differences.

The course immerses students in the intelligence literature and reinforces their understanding of advanced methods and designs (e.g., longitudinal studies, behaviour and quantitative genetics, factor analysis). The primary reading for the course is based on influential articles, both recent and past.
Course description Aside from the introductory lecture (overview of intelligence) and a model presentation by the course organizer (week 2), there is no week-to-week plan for the course. The schedule depends entirely on what students will present each week.

Below is a list of areas from which students can select their presentation topic. Other (not listed here) topics are also possible, if agreed with the course organizer. Each presentation should be based on comparing at least two papers. The model presentation by course organizer will set a template for student presentations. Before their presentation, students can discuss their plans individually with the course organizer. Students must also wrote a (simplified) summary of their presentation and submit this at least three days before their presentation (it will be sent to all students of the course).

Each presentation is followed by group discussion. The participation in discussions is part of summative assessment.

Topics covered would be:

1) The definitions and structure of intelligence
2) The nature of general intelligence (underlying causal structure or something else)
3) Genetic and familial influences on intelligence (e.g., twin/family or quantitative genetic studies)
4) Intelligence and lower-level cognitive processes
5) The biological foundations of intelligence
6) The evolutionary psychology of intelligence and intelligence in in nonhuman animals
7) The influences of intelligence on health, well-being, and psychopathology
8) Intelligence, culture, national and cohort differences
9) Intelligence, development and ageing
10) Intelligence and personality: empirical relations and conceptual similarities and differences
11) Intelligence and society
12) Intelligence in organizational settings
13) Direct modifiability of intelligence
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2016/17, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 175 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 1. A summary (1 to 2 pages) of the presentations to be handed out to fellow students prior to presentation (10%)

2. Presentation and leading discussion on the presentation topic (40%)

3. Participation in discussion groups during the other weeks (10%)

4. An essay (1000 words) on a topic of one other presentation of the course (40%)
Feedback Each week students will present on and lead a discussion covering either at least two large related articles. The presenter is encouraged to meet the course organizer at least one week prior to their presentation to discuss the presentation plan. Students receive feedback from the course organizer both during the presentation and more formally shortly after the presentation.

Also, before submitting the essay, students can meet the course organizer to discuss their essay plan.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. gain knowledge of major research conducted in intelligence
  2. gain knowledge of how to conduct intelligence research (methodological design issues, etc.)
  3. summarize and present scientific papers
  4. leading and participate in small discussion groups
  5. write a text on the topic of presentation that is accessible to public and yet scientifically accurate
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Reading and evaluating scientific papers and methods. Leading small group discussions. Public speaking. Essay writing.
Additional Class Delivery Information Attend all lectures as scheduled
Keywordsintelligence,cognitive abilities,individual differences
Contacts
Course organiserDr Rene Mottus
Tel: (0131 6)50 3410
Email: rene.mottus@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk
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